Biological Science Undergraduate Navigates Toward Success

Betty Mbom's parents always told her, "If you think there's something that needs to be changed, don't wait for someone else to do it." So, in 2007, the Carnegie Mellon senior worked with Rea Freeland, associate dean for special projects at the Mellon College of Science (MCS); Eric Grotzinger, associate dean, MCS; and Ty Walton, director of Carnegie Mellon Advising Resource Center (CMARC) to start "COMPASS" — a mentoring program for minority freshmen at Carnegie Mellon.

COMPASS — short for Coaching Minority Progress and Academic Success in Science — provides students with mentors, informs them about Carnegie Mellon resources and gives them opportunities to get to know one another. Participants have reported such a positive impact on their college experience that other colleges at Carnegie Mellon are contemplating adopting the program.